LiveCycle Data Services 2.5 (previously FDS)

LiveCycle Data Services 2.5 is the next generation of the Data Services product originally branded Flex Data Services as a part of the Flex 2 launch.

Here is the list of new features:

• A new Flex SDK (which will be released currently with Data Services 2.5), which includes updates the client-side Web Services library.
• Server-side PDF generation capabilities for RIA applications generates properly formatted PDF documents that include graphical assets from Flex applications, such as graphs and charts.
• Runtime configuration of data destinations in Data Services eliminates the need for a compile-time dependency between clients and the Data Services server configuration.
• Support for WSRP portal deployment of Flex applications, which makes it easy for developers to deploy a Flex application as a portlet in a portal server without having to do any  portal specific programming.
• Per Client Messaging quality of service (QoS) allowing Flex clients to select custom data access policies for real- time data.
• Ajax Data Services, enabling Ajax applications to take advantage of the data management and messaging capabilities available in Data Services.
• The Flex-Ajax Bridge (FABridge), which is a small library that can be inserted into a Flex application, a Flex component, or even an empty SWF file to expose it to scripting in the browser without any additional coding.
• Improved off-line message queuing, supporting future Apollo development, which allows Flex applications using Data Services to queue outbound messages locally when the client is offline and manage exactly what is sent to the server upon reconnect.
• Groundwork for future Apollo application support, including a local data cache that enables developers to cache client data requests and data changes to the local file system for later retrieval when an application resumes.
• RTMP tunneling (RTMPT) that allows the use of the RTMP protocol in Data Service applications to traverse firewalls and proxies that currently prevent direct RTMP client connections to the server.
• A new SQL adaptor, which dramatically simplifies the development of applications using Data Management Services without having to write any server-side Java code.
• A new JSP Tag Library that enables MXML and ActionScript code to be embedded into a JSP page providing an easier entry for J2EE developers to Flex programming.
• Several important enhancements to core Data Services performance and scalability.

It is available on the Adobe Labs site now.

Yahoo Maps Beta Update

The new Yahoo Maps Beta 3 is out and has many new features including International Maps, Satelite Maps, and Hybrid Maps.  The API is still only Flex 1.5 compatible but I have received word that he Flex 2 API is well on its was and should be available soon.  Check it out at Yahoo Maps.

Open PopUp Window from Flex 1.5

This is a followup to my post on November 4th titled Open Flex Window From Flex.
That example was a Flex 2 example using the ExternalInterface API. This new sample accomplishes the same thing but is running on a Flex 1.5 server using a wrapper flash 8 swf to access the ExternalInterface API.

Run This Code

Download This Code

Blur Effect in Flex 1.5

Those of you who have used Flash 8 or Flex 2 Alpha have seen the cool new effects that are possible. However, since Flex 1.5 was built for flash player 7 they are not natively available. I have created a number or wrapper swfs that allow the new flash 8 functions to be used in the current version of Flex. I have posted the Blur sample here for download and also will have ColorTransform, DropShadow, and Glow available within the IFBIN Flex By Example.

UPDATE: The source code for ColorTransform, DropShadow, and Glow is now available at IFBIN Flex By Example.

Run This Code

Download This Code

HDividedPrefBox and VDividedPrefBox

HDividedPrefBox and VDividedPrefBox are classes that extend HDividedBox and VDividedBox and add the functionality of storage of the users interaction with the divided boxes. Upon reload the preferences will be retrieved and the users custom layout will be restored. This sample’s source code and custom classes will be available within the IFBIN Flex By Example.

This source code is now aviable within Flex By Example.

Run This Code